Dispensing Closure

ABSTRACT

A child resistant dispensing closure  1  having a smooth external surface. The closure  1  comprises a body  2  and a lid  3 , connected together by a hinge  5 . The lid  3  is held closed against the body  2  by a catch  6 . The closure  1  has a resilient ring  4  which in its deformed configuration co-operates with the catch  6  to unlock it and provides a lifting region  65 , by which a user may lift the lid  3  of the closure  1.

The present invention concerns a dispensing closure, having a body and alid. The body defines a dispensing orifice through which the contents ofa container, to which the closure is attached, may be dispensed. The lidis attached to the body by a hinge, which allows the lid to swingbetween a closed position, in which the lid occludes the dispensingorifice, to an open position, in which the dispensing orifice is exposedand the contents of the container may be dispensed. In particular, thedispensing closure according to the present invention is a childresistant dispensing closure and includes a catch to lock the lid in itsclosed position. The lid can only be opened, upon application of twodiscrete, dissimilar movements, simultaneously by a user. This isgenerally considered difficult for a child to achieve and is unlikely toresult in the closure being opened accidentally.

A child resistant closure of this general type is disclosed in

U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,442—.This patent describes the need for two different and dissimilarmovements to prevent the lid from being opened by a child. This patentalso discusses the desirability of providing alignment between theadjacent surfaces of the body and the lid, to prevent the lid from beingeasily grasped to exert an opening force on the lid. In the closuredescribed in this patent, a user must first squeeze radially inwardly,on the two opposing sides of the lid on either side of the hinge, toexpose an edge opposite the hinge, by which the lid may then be lifted.This squeezing movement also temporarily releases a catch.

The lid of the closure described in

U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,442—.has a generally planar top plate with a downwardly depending sidewall.An arcuate slot extends through the top plate opposite the hinge andadjacent to the sidewall. The slot allows the sidewall of the lid to besqueezed at two diametrically opposed points, thereby displacing aportion of the sidewall opposite the hinge. This displacement releases acatch and also provides an overhang on the lid relative to the body, bywhich the lid may be lifted.

A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the top plate of the closuredoes not support the distorted portion of the sidewall. The arcuate slotsubtends an angle of at least 180°, to allow the necessary deformationof the sidewall. However, during the second stage of the openingmovement, a user must lift the lid by this unsupported section ofsidewall, which will be difficult and will result in axial movement ofthe sidewall relative to the planar top plate. Repeated movement willlead to damage of the unsupported sidewall and may render the catch(which is carried by this portion of the lid) ineffective.

A further disadvantage of this arrangement is that, unlike the sidewallsof the lid and the body, which join to form a continuous surface, thetop plate of the sidewall is disjointed by the arcuate slot. This slotmay collect dirt or may be used to pries open the closure using theteeth for example, which will further reduce the effectiveness of theclosure.

The closure according to the present invention, overcomes thesedisadvantages by providing a dispensing closure having a lid thatincludes a top plate, which covers the ring in both its normal anddeformed states and in its deformed state. The ring unlocks the catchtemporarily, whilst defining a lifting tab to allow the lid to be movedto its open position.

In the closure according to the invention, the top plate of the closurehas a smooth surface with no cavities therein to trap dirt or otherforeign objects and cannot be easily manipulated to overcome the catcharrangement. Furthermore, the lifting region of the ring is supported bythe top plate and when a user applies axial force to the lifting regionto lift the lid, the ring is braced by the top plate, making the lideasier to open.

In use, a user squeezes the ring on either side of the hinge, ovalisingthe ring, which causes the catch to be released and also provides anoverhang portion relative to the body, opposite the hinge. In order toopen the closure, a lifting force must be applied simultaneously withthe squeezing force required to release the catch and provide theoverhang portion. If the squeezing force is released before the liftingforce is applied, the catch will re-engage and the resilient ring willrelax obliterating or at least minimising the overhang portion. Thiswill make it difficult to open the lid. The two discrete, dissimilarmovements, simultaneously applied, prevent the closure from being openedeasily by a child.

The lid may be formed in two parts: A resilient ring, forming thesidewall of the lid and a separate top plate. An advantage of thisarrangement is that the radial de-formation of the ring is unrestricted.The top plate is specifically designed to cover the ring in both itsrelaxed and deformed states, whilst providing a smooth surface to thetop of the closure. Also, the externally facing surface of the top platemay be adapted to provide different colours, surface finish orpromotional opportunities. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that itrequires assembly of the two portions of the lid and this may beundesirable in high volume production process.

Accordingly, in an alternative embodiment of the closure, the lid isproduced in one-piece, with a top plate and a sidewall dependingdownwardly therefrom. Again, the resilient ring is provided by thesidewall, but in this embodiment, the end of the sidewall adjacent tothe top plate is constrained by the top plate, with which it isintegrally moulded.

The radial deformation of the sidewall/ring is thereby reduced and thelateral squeezing force applied to the sidewall/ring will result in bothradial deformation and axial deformation of the ring and the associatedareas of the top plate.

In this embodiment, if the free edge of the sidewall of the lid iscontiguous with the adjacent surface of the body, the squeezing of thesidewall may both release the catch, due to the radial component ofdeformation, and lift the lid, due to the axial component ofdeformation. This is clearly a disadvantage from a child resistanceviewpoint, because the lid of the closure may be opened by a singlesqueezing movement. A closure having this disadvantage is disclosed in

U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,016—.(equivalent toU.S. Pat. No. 5,683,016—).

In the closure according to the invention, the free edge of the sidewall of the lid is spaced from the adjacent surface of the body, toallow the portion of the side wall which is squeezed to deform axiallyas well as radially, without the side wall pressing against the base andthereby lifting the lid as the catch is released. A disadvantage of thisarrangement is that the gap between the free edge of the side wall ofthe lid and the adjacent surface of the body may allow a child tomanipulate the lid, by biting for example. In order to overcome thisdisadvantage, the upper surface of the body or the free edge of the lidsidewall may be extended, to cover the gap between the base and the lidand prevent easy access thereto. The portion of the sidewall oppositethe hinge is left unprotected, to allow uninhibited deformation of thering/sidewall to produce a lifting region.

Another embodiment of the invention proposes, a closure, comprising abody and a lid connected together by a hinge, with windows provided inthe sidewall and/or the adjacent top plate of the lid. A separate,resilient ring is fixed inside the lid and portions of this ringprotrude through the windows to allow the ring to be squeezed laterallyon either side of the hinge. On squeezing, the portion of the resilientring opposite the hinge protrudes radially outwardly, through anotherwindow in the sidewall, and thereby releases the catch and provides alifting region, by which the lid may be lifted and opened.

This design may be enhanced by providing tabs attached to the resilientring, arranged to protrude through the windows. The tabs may be furtherenhanced by including finger recesses, to improve the ease with whichthe ring may be laterally squeezed by a user. Furthermore, the liftingregion may be provided by a further tab, which projects from the lid asthe ring is deformed, to improve the ease of lifting and opening thelid, after the ring is deformed by squeezing.

This embodiment combines the advantage of a freely deformable resilientring, which is unconstrained by the lid or the sidewall, whilst ensuringthat the ring is completely surrounded by a top plate and sidewall ofthe lid to achieve a substantially smooth surface. It will be understoodthat the ring and windows may be designed to enhance the smooth,contiguous flow of the surface of the closure.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only,with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view (looking from the top) according to afirst embodiment of the invention, with the lid in its open position.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded, isometric view (looking from the top) of thesame closure as that shown in FIG. 1, with the lid open and separate topplate (not yet assembled).

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the closure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with thelid in its closed, normal position.

FIG. 4A shows a plan view of the closure shown in FIG. 2, with the lidin its deformed position.

FIG. 4B shows the same plan view as FIG. 4A, with the separate top plateremoved.

FIG. 5 shows side view of a one-piece closure according to a secondembodiment of the invention having a lid comprising a top plate with anintegral sidewall depending from the periphery thereof.

FIG. 6 shows an isometric view (looking from the top) of the sameclosure shown in FIG. 5, with the lid in its open position.

FIG. 7 shows an isometric view of the closure shown in FIGS. 5 and 6with the lid in its closed, normal position.

FIG. 8 shows the same closure as shown in FIG. 7 in its closed, deformedposition.

FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention(similar to the closure shown in FIGS. 5 to 8), with its lid in aclosed, normal position and having shield elements.

FIG. 10 shows an isometric view the same closure shown in FIG. 9 in itsopen position.

FIG. 11 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention,with its lid in a closed, normal position and having an alternativedesign of shield elements

FIG. 12 shows an isometric view of the closure shown in FIG. 11, withthe lid in its open position.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of a closure according to yet anotherembodiment of the invention, having tabs, which protrude through windowsin the sidewall/lid of the closure.

FIG. 14 shows an isometric view (looking from the top) of the closureshown in FIG. 13, with the lid in its open position.

FIG. 15 shows an exploded view of the closure shown in FIGS. 13 and 14).

FIG. 16 shows a plan view of the closure shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, withthe lid in its closed, normal position.

FIG. 17 shows a plan view of the closure shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, withthe lid in its deformed position.

In the attached description, the closure is described in relation to an“upright” orientation, where the main axis of the closure is aligned tothe vertical and the body of the closure lies vertically below the lid.Wherever possible like parts have been designated using the samereference numerals.

Referring to the attached Figures, a dispensing closure 1 according tothe invention generally comprises a body 2 and a lid 3. The body 2 isadapted to be connected to a container (not shown) by means of mutuallyco-operating screw threads or snap beads, for example. Preferably, theconnection between the body 2 and the container is a permanentconnection, which prevents easy removal of the closure 2 from thecontainer. Instead, the body 2 has a dispensing orifice 28, throughwhich the contents of the container may be dispensed. The lid 3 has atop plate 31, from which a sidewall 32 depends downwardly and a plug 38,designed to co-operate with the dispensing orifice 28. A hinge 5connects the lid 3 to the body 2, and allows the lid 3 to be movedswingingly between a closed position, in which the plug 38 occludes thedispensing orifice 38 and an open position, in which the dispensingorifice 28 is unobstructed and the contents of the container may bedispensed.

In a first embodiment of the invention (see FIGS. 1 and 2), the topplate 31 is formed as a separate component to the remainder of the lid3, which comprises an inner central panel 33 and a sidewall 32. The plug38 is carried on the inner central panel 33.

The sidewall 32 of the lid 3 is connected to the inner central panel 33by rigid arms 35 adjacent to the hinge 5 and resilient curved arms 36distant from the hinge 5 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The number and position ofthe curved arms 36 are chosen to hold the sidewall 32 firmly to theinner central panel 33, and act to limit undesirable axial movement asthe lid is opened and closed. The resilient curved arms provide a degreeof resistance to the squeezing movement of the user required to deformthe sidewall 33, without preventing the deformation thereof altogether.This limited resistance is expected by a user, to provide feedback aboutthe degree of squeezing force applied.

A separate top plate 31 is fixed to the upper surface of the lid 3, bymeans of a hole 332 and spigot 312 joint (as shown in FIG. 2). The hole332 and spigot 312 joint is designed to be permanent, once assembled andthe separate top plate 31 is difficult to remove from the inner centralplate 33 of the lid 3.

In this embodiment, the sidewall 32 provides the resilient ring 4 andcarries one part of the catch 6. The other part of the catch 6 iscarried on the body 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the catch 6 comprises a tab61, which engages in a slot 62. In FIG. 1, the tab is shown carried onthe resilient ring 4 and the slot is defined in the body 2, but thesetwo parts of the catch 6 may be reversed. Alternatively, the catch 6 maycomprise two inter-engaging tabs rather than a tab and a slot.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the closure 1, in is closed, normalposition. As shown, in this position the separate top plate 31 coversthe whole of the upper surface of the resilient ring 4. Referring toFIGS. 4A and 4B, to open the closure, a user squeezes the resilient ringon either side of the hinge 5. On squeezing, the ring 4 deforms(ovalises) and thereby releases the tab part of the catch 61 from theslot 62. Also, the deformed ring 4 creates an overhang 65 on the lid 3with respect to the body 2. This overhang 65 is used to lift the lid 3,disengaging the plug 38 from the dispensing orifice 28. It should benoted that on ovalising, the deformed ring 4 unlocks the lid but doesnot open the lid 3. A second separate and distinct lifting movement mustbe applied by the user simultaneously with the squeezing movement.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the invention, having the samegeneral structure as that described above. A closure 1 comprises a body2, for fixing to a container (not shown), and a lid 3 connected togetherby a hinge 5. Again the lid 3 comprises a top plate 31 with a sidewall32, depending downwardly from the periphery thereof. The sidewall 32provides the resilient ring 4 required by the invention, but in thisembodiment, the top plate 31 and sidewall 32 are moulded integrally (asa single component). This allows high volume production, but theintegral nature of the top plate 31 and the side wall 32 means that thetop plate 31 inhibits deformation of the ring 4/sidewall 32.

In fact, it has been found that when the sides of the ring 4/sidewall 32are squeezed by a user, the ring 4/sidewall 32 has two components ofdeformation. Radial de-formation, which is required to unlock the catch6 and provide the lifting region 65 required according to the invention,and axial deformation, which is undesirable because the side wall 32presses against the adjacent surface of the body 2 and tends to lift thelid 2. In this embodiment, this problem is overcome by leaving a gap 7between the free edge of the side wall 32 and the adjacent surface ofthe body 2, which is sized such that the axial deformation of the ring4/sidewall 32 can be accommodated, without lifting the lid 3.

A plurality of ribs 37 is also provided between the top plate 31 andsidewall 32 to allow the closure to resist any axial top load. The ribs37 are sized and positioned to stabilise the lid 2, should it besubjected to a top load, during transport, for example.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, to open the closure 1, a user again squeezeseither side of the lid 2 to deform the resilient ring 4/side wall 32. Inthis embodiment, the sidewall 32 is constrained at its top edge by thetop plate 31. Thus, the squeezing movement tends to push the sidewall 32radially inwardly and downwardly (as shown in FIG. 8. As described inrelation the previous embodiment the squeezing movement unlocks a catch(not shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) and also provides a lifting region 65, bywhich the lid 3 may be lifted.

This embodiment may be further enhanced by providing a shield 71, tocover the gap 7 and provide a smooth surface to the closure 1 (as shownin FIGS. 9 and 10). The shield 71 is preferably interrupted at the hinge5 and the opposing portion of the side wall 32 (adjacent to the catch6), to allow room for outward radial movement of the side wall 32,required to unlock the catch 6 between the body 2 and the lid 3.

In a variation to this embodiment (see FIGS. 11 and 12), the shieldportions 71 may be extended to provide finger pads, which the user mayuse to indirectly squeeze the sidewall 32 of the lid 3. This arrangementhas the advantage that the user is unaware of the radially inwardtilting of the free edge of the sidewall 32 (shown in FIG. 8), whensqueezing pressure is applied to the pads. In this arrangement, theshield portions 71 may be relieved (for example, cut away or flaredoutwardly) in the vicinity of the hinge 5, to allow unrestricted openingand closing of the lid 3 on the body 2.

Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15, in a final embodiment of the invention, thelid 3 of the closure 1 is formed in one piece and is again connected toa body 2 via a hinge 5. A plurality of windows 39 is defined in the lid2 in the sidewall 32 and/or top plate 31. A separate resilient ring isassembled inside the lid 2 by a known permanent joint arrangement (e.g.hole and spigot arrangement as previously described and as shown n FIGS.14 and 15). The permanent joint between the lid 3 and the resilient ring4 is designed to allow free deformation of the majority of the ring 4.In other words, the ring 4 is preferably attached to the lid 2 at onepoint only.

A pair of squeeze tabs 41 may be carried on the ring, such that theyprotrude through the windows 39, Preferably, the squeeze tabs 41 areshaped to accommodate a user's fingers comfortably. A lifting tab 65 isalso carried on the ring 4, opposite the hinge 5 and may protrudethrough an associated window 39 in the sidewall 32 of the lid 3.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, a user who wants to gain access to thecontents of the container squeezes the squeeze tabs 41, deforming thering 4 and unlocking the catch 6. As illustrated in FIG. 17, thedeformation of the ring also causes a lifting portion 65 to protrudefrom the lid 2, opposite the hinge, allowing the lid 2 to be lifted andthereby opened.

The examples described above are included as illustrative of the presentinvention only and other resilient ring designs, falling within thescope of the claims, will be apparent to the man skilled in the art,without departing from the general teaching of the invention.

1. A dispensing closure comprising a body for connection to a container,a lid, moveable relative to the body between open and closed positions,a catch arranged to lock the body and the lid together, when the lid isin its closed position, and a resilient ring, having a normal anddeformed state. wherein the lid includes a top plate, which covers thering in both its normal and deformed states and in its deformed state,the resilient ring unlocks the catch temporarily while defining alifting tab, to allow the lid to be moved to its open position.
 2. Thedispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein at least part of thecatch is carried on the resilient ring.
 3. The dispensing closureaccording to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a top plate and integralsidewall depending from the periphery thereof, the resilient ring iscarried inside the lid and the lid includes a plurality of windows,through which the resilient ring may be pressed to cause deformation. 4.The dispensing closure according to claim 3, wherein the sidewallincludes a plurality of windows, finger tabs are carried by theresilient ring and the finger tabs protrude through the windows makingit easier for a user to deform the resilient ring.
 5. The dispensingclosure according to claim 4, wherein two substantially diametricallyopposed finger tabs are provided to allow a user to squeeze theresilient ring, thereby deforming it to unlock the catch and expose thelifting tab.
 6. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein theresilient ring is integral with the top plate and depends from theperiphery thereof.
 7. The dispensing closure according to claim 6,wherein a gap is provided between adjacent surfaces of the body and thelid to accommodate axial movement of the resilient ring as it deforms.8. The dispensing closure according to claim 7, further comprising ashield to prevent access to the gap.
 9. The A dispensing closureaccording to claim 8, wherein the shield is segmented to allow access tothe lifting tab.
 10. The dispensing closure according to claim 1,wherein the external surface of the closure is adapted to be smooth andcontinuous.